Mike Howles Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 (edited) I'm building this as it was one aircraft that didn't last long, did a very important job for British Industy, Rolls Royce and the modern airliner industry. Had it not been for the RB211 and the VC10 that tested it in flight the world of air transport may be different now. Also, I did spend quite a bit of time assisting in its destruction at Kemble, we robbed the thing blind while it was there, mostly fuel system components and anything else we could get our hands on. So here's to XR809!! I had already started this kit when the group build came along but I was concentrating on the DC3 I was building so I had only done a bit. But this will gee me up a bit and the Welsh weather helps....its binning it down outside! I have taken the hint and moved the WIP images to here: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.p...p;#entry1069603 Edited July 5, 2012 by Mike Howles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 I remember my dad going on day trips across to Kemble to rob trim bit off this aircraft. Nice start with the model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev1n Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 I could never figure out why this aircraft was not given a full and useful life - this will be an interesting build tho' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Howles Posted April 30, 2012 Author Share Posted April 30, 2012 I could never figure out why this aircraft was not given a full and useful life - this will be an interesting build tho' Kevin Basically it was down to the imbalance between the two Conways on one side and the sigle RB211 on the other. The airframe developed a twist which was deemed uneconomical to repair. Hence you will see on the odd image the bodged taped name on the port side that a workmate of mine applied 'Crab Air' Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BritJet Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 I've never understood the idea about the imbalance between the Conways and RB211 as the thrust from the Conways would have been 2x 20,250 = 40,500 lbs and the RB211 (at the time) 42,000 lbs. Did they really run the engines so much out of balance that a strong airframe like the VC10 developed a twist? Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garryrussell Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 I don't think the incident described here helped very much http://www.vc10.net/History/Individual/XR809.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev1n Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 well that would explain it then, tho' it doesnt say why the RAF were able to lease it to begin with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oggy4624 Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 Given the state Rolls Royce was in, and a labour government, they were probably told to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev1n Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 lol ^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigsty Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 Given the state Rolls Royce was in, and a labour government, they were probably told to. Or it could have been: * RR needs a test-bed; * no aircraft exists that can safely mount an RB.211 on an existing pylon, except the VC10 and the prototype 747 (unless you count the unlikely possibility of the Il-62); * RR asks nicely if they can borrow a VC10; * the Government, in the spirit of supporting British industry, agrees, expecting the airframe to come back in a few years. They can't possibly know that RR will break it. See? It can be explained without implying that it's some weird socialist anti-military plot - and, moreover, more pro-British than anti. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev1n Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 your so logical Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Howles Posted July 1, 2012 Author Share Posted July 1, 2012 (edited) Ok, managed to get some more time in owing to the rubbish weather we are having in Wales at the moment. See here; http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.p...p;#entry1069603 Edited July 5, 2012 by Mike Howles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted July 1, 2012 Share Posted July 1, 2012 I commend the effort that you have put into this model, it really does look very good indeeed. As for bad weather in Wales at the moment, when I lived ther for just about 2 and a half years it was always bad weather. The worst part was is that we could also see the good weather in England across the Bristol Channel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Howles Posted July 2, 2012 Author Share Posted July 2, 2012 I commend the effort that you have put into this model, it really does look very good indeeed.As for bad weather in Wales at the moment, when I lived ther for just about 2 and a half years it was always bad weather. The worst part was is that we could also see the good weather in England across the Bristol Channel. Jabba, you say your Dad often went to Kemble on a robbing trip. We did the same only for engine system parts. Just wondering when this was? I was at Brize between 1979 and 1989 on the Line and in the Hangar. I was just wondering if I knew him. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted July 2, 2012 Share Posted July 2, 2012 Jabba, you say your Dad often went to Kemble on a robbing trip.We did the same only for engine system parts. Just wondering when this was? I was at Brize between 1979 and 1989 on the Line and in the Hangar. I was just wondering if I knew him. Mike Probably not as my dad was at Brize from 67 to about 77ish working in Base hangar and then one the line for a few years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev1n Posted July 3, 2012 Share Posted July 3, 2012 Go Mike!!!!...this looks really interesting and a cool build so far Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Howles Posted July 3, 2012 Author Share Posted July 3, 2012 Go Mike!!!!...this looks really interesting and a cool build so far It would be so much easier if it were 1/72!!! I did write to Airfix campaigning for a 1/72 VC10 but they said: Dear Mr Howles Thank you for your e-mail Although we currently have no plans to release this item, we do keep a record of all customer requests and product suggestions, which we do take into consideration when planning all future ranges Kind regards Matt Jordan Customer Care So a load of mail from all the VC10 fans might just swing it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev1n Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 worth a go I suppose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radleigh Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 (edited) I would write to them, as I need/want a VC-10 in 72nd! Edited July 5, 2012 by Radleigh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev1n Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 It would be a huge kit, and I'd love one in RAF markings but I'm not sure there is a big enough market to justify doing it. That said, 1/72nd scale, with the parts to make a standard or super, civil or RAF markings, might make a difference (any more discussion on this, make a new topic please and lets leave Mike's build topic to be a build topic, thanks) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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